Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-12-31

Sat IN many crnsr respects we were less
Avorably situated now for an escape than
re had ever heen before. The distance
was greater to be travsrsed, for Gen.
Buell. had been forced back almost to the
Ohio river. Our own number was dimin.
tshsd by death. We were all weakened
by more than six months of terrible I'm
prtsonment, and some Of our best men
were too sick to take a very active part in
the struggle, while a strong guard was
constantly on duty and we were in a
strongly barred and locked upperroom in
the edge Of = city which was almost in
tbs center Of the coofederacy.
: But we resolved at every, hazard to
make an attempt If there should be the
slightest intimatton Of an intention to
bring Us before another court martial. It
was better to die on the bayonets Of tho
guards than on the scafold.
Long before this, when utterly wearted
with captivity, We wrote q letter to JEFF
ferson Davis-stiu preserved in the gov
ernment Notwithstanding u case from
response. More recently VT wrote again
ment in which we were. This had been
"0AASo, SS0P w osSP: ~ LAC I@eSlOout
of the Confederacy, bringing from him q
been executed like q comrades! This
letter and its numerous Endorsements are
published in the War Records We only
knew Of the danger It indicated at the
time Indirectly. Our guard was strength.
ened; the jailor was overheard b; q
prisoner in another room saying: s'Those
Ohio men will soon all be hung!" The
commander OF the post, Col. Lee, visited
us and asked Of vs almost the same Ques.
ton Davis asked, as to the difference be-
tween our case and that of our comrades,
and urged great vigilance on the guards.
These things convinced US that our only
chance Of life was by taking the matter
in our own hands. One plan proposed
was to try to get out secretly, at night,
by saving of the bars of our windows
and lowering ourselves, n by one, to the
ground. The fatal objections to it were
that it required US to await q dark night,
and even then 1t was. scarcely possible
that more than one or two would get out
before an alarm IA given. l had no
hope from 1t.
But the other plan could not fail if every
did his exact duty, and We were now
SO well acquainted that We had perfect
confidence in each other. 1t was simply
to attack our foes in broad daylight.
When Il food YVES brought in the after
noon, and the door opened, we could rush
out, Selling and holding perfectly quiet
the jailer and his assistant, threatening
them with death If they moved, unlocking
all the doors SO that we might have the
assistance Of all the prisoners, and then
charge upon the seven soldiers below, dis
possessing thom Of their muskets in the
first rush; and IL this was done without
noise or alarm, march them up into our
o and gag them there. 1t was not
likely, however, that we would be able to
keep everything quiet CROUCH for this; in
which cast wo were to run as soon ss an
alarm was raised, for we knew that there
was a strong reserve close by, and did not
feel able to reckon with any moro thar the
seven rebels on hand.
In such an attack, tho element Of time
and exact Planning Of every mans work
so hat there is no confusion and hesi,a-
ton, arc Of vital Importance. We ar
ranged with the utmost nicely. Capt.
Fry was to begin the movement, for he
was the oldest, and we gave him the post
of honor: I was to stand by and help him
with the iailcr and tho Waterman TEocr,
il the latter was Oh hand, rs lie usually
was; probably was given this place from
the correct view that with my roor eyes
would be Of more service in Il scunlc in
the hall than in the glaring light outside.
Then BuiIum, who was as agile rs y Cat,
was to snatch the keys. and, waiting for
nothing else, to open all the doors above.
Phero were three, and tie fitting OF keys
from the bunch under such excitement
was likely to make this take somc time.
l think no Il of us felt that Bufun had
q desirable Office. But it was desirable to
TO have all the prisoners released if only
to distract tho pursuit. All the others
were arranged into two bands with lead
ers, to slip down the stairway at the pro-
per time and break out on the guards at
the front and rear doors simultaneously.
Then quickness, courage and desperation
were to be pitted against loaded muskets
and bayonets, and the issue left to tho
God OF battles.
We had also chosen our comrades 0nd
routes. We were to travel in pairs and
in every direction. Capt. Fry was to be
my partaer, aud all the rest considered
that I was fortunate, for he would be at
home in the Cumberland mountains, to-
ward which we were to journey. Tho
intended course was marked out for each
couple and everything done to forward
the movement on which VIC believed de-
pended our last chance Of escaping the
gallows. We did not forget to make most
earnest supplications in prayer, and to
vow, in the old time manner that we
would render faithful service to the Lord
OF Hosts if he would aid us in this great
emergency.
1t was afternoon when we received tho
intelligence which determined our action
and we could not very we'll be ready to
start that day. So the work was set for
the following afternoon. We patched our
shoes as well as we could, and made cloth
moccasins to protect our feet, for many
shoes were worn IL We gave messages
to each other beginning with the form,
''If you get out and I do not"-for VIC
could not tell who would 10 the fortunate
ones In the effort, or how many might
fail. We had . strong conviction Of sue
cess, but whether seven guards would
allow their muskets to be taken without
using bullet or bayonet against some of
their assailants with fatal effect, seemed
moro than doubtful! l have made ready
for battle more than once, but never had
so deep and solemn a realization Of tho
uncertainty Of the issue az on this occa-
sion.
CHAPTER XIV
TIE ATTEMPT.